A rough cut is an early version of an edited video where all the major clips are assembled in sequence, but fine-tuning, effects, color grading, and sound mixing have not yet been applied.
The rough cut is a critical milestone in the post-production process. It represents the first complete assembly of the video where the editor has selected the best takes, arranged them in narrative order, and established the overall structure and pacing. At this stage, the video tells the intended story but lacks the polish of a finished product — transitions may be basic, audio levels uneven, and color untreated.
Rough cuts serve as the primary review point for stakeholders and clients. This is the stage where structural changes are easiest and least costly to make. Rearranging scenes, swapping takes, adjusting pacing, or removing entire sections can all be done efficiently. Once a rough cut is approved, the editor moves on to fine cutting, color grading, sound design, and finishing — processes that are time-consuming to redo if the structure changes later.
When reviewing a rough cut, focus on the big picture: Does the story flow logically? Is the pacing right? Are the key messages clear? Avoid getting distracted by technical imperfections like color inconsistencies or rough audio — these will be addressed in subsequent passes. Providing structural feedback at the rough cut stage is the most effective way to keep a project on track and on budget.
A cut is the most basic edit in video production — an instantaneous transition from one clip to the next with no visual effect between them.
The timeline is the primary workspace in a video editor where clips, audio, effects, and transitions are arranged sequentially to build a project.
A transition is a visual effect applied between two clips to smooth or stylize the change from one shot to the next.